The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1887-06-25
A DOMESTIC PROBLEM.


A DOMESTIC PROBLEM.
-
The Romantic Manner In winch 1t
Was Solved.
"a woman's education is mistake
from beginning to end, said roxy
Stephens, In sudden outburst OF de-
SPAR. "Yes. it Is. Here have l been
going to school all my life, and don't
know any thi'sg. There never could
have beer. Roxy deliberately added
''even In the Dark Ages, such an ig-
noramus as am l don't even know
how to feed the chickens properly. y
as downy colony OF little ''Domini-
Ques" scattcred this way and that be-
fore the mass OF scalded meal which
Hoxy had flung too abruptly into their
midst while the moSher hen, sounding
trumpet note OF shrill alarm, scuttled
back against the picket-fence. with
dapping wings and feathers all a-bris-
t2.
UP to certain degree there was
truth IN hoxy's lamentation. She had
been seventeen years old when she
came to live with her aunt Sally
stephens on the Redbrook Farm She
was brighthaired fresh-complex-
Toned girl with shady blue eyes, EN-
PhasiSed by perfectly srched brows
thought heavier than falls to the usual
lot OF womankind. They had al
ways been secret grievance to her.
these black. leech-like curves; but had
che only known 1t, the dark, strongly
penciied brows were what gave charac-
ter to her whole face. and redeemed il
from the insipidity OF mere pink and
white prettiness. In certain fashion
her mind correspondent to her eye
brows There was a quaint vein OF
originality pervading 1t. Her nature
was strongly outlined. too, and in the
fullness OF youth and vitality she had
once believed that she was born to
conquer fate.
Roxanna Stephens was a city-bred
girl. the daughter Of Miss Sally's old
est brother. who had died unexpected,
ty. leaving motherless girl totally un
provided for. Thus do people give
mortgages to fate, and dying. leave
others to foreclose on them. There is
undoubtedly certain degree of injus
tice In 1t; but who shall venture to carl
against the Lords willP Miss Sally
herself, complaining little woman
with face full of fine wrinkles. like
China Grape. and blue eyes hidden be
hind misty spectacles. accepted the
trust as she had accepted all the othel
fnconveniencies Of her life, simply ant
without protest She had never hat
any strong emotions one way or thu
other. If she had any active pleasure
it was In gathering the humble herb
and simples of her native fields ant
drying them In preparation for tn
aches and pains that beset her poo
humanity. cts always we'll to bt
prepared. said she. Il don't hol'
with the homGpathies, nor yet hahn
no faith in calomel and mercury
There amt nothin' like roots an'
herbs, and every neighbor within tel
miles around comes to me for EN-
when they've sickness in the house."
And to this little old brown wOmal
In little old brown farmhouse cam
RoKanna, the young princess who ha,
set forth to conquer the world.
nm desput glad you've come, Rox
amer" said Miss Stephens, shifting a
. bunch Of wilted pennyroyal. %
amt able to keep on dom as he
been dom. Somehow it's borne il
upon me that Providence has sent you
I've worked powerful hard all my life
and now I'll Jest rest spell, and lie
you keep house for me. l hain't n
doubt at all but what we'll get alon
together first-rate, you and me-"
Roxy looked with solemn eyes a
her aunt Evidently the old lady ha
faith as grain of mustard-seed, an
there was something contagious in he
example.
ut must be very easy to kee
house." said Roxy, fresh from tn
classroom and recitation-hall. So tn
household helm was delivered into he
hands. and then-not till then-sh
realized the fact of her exceeding ignt
rance.
Not for worlds, however, would sh
have confessed her inability to rule til
domestic mendge. Aunt Sally had
profound contempt for "book-larnin' /,
and did not hesitate to assert roundl
that "ef brother Simon had took h
advice he would hev brung up Roxal
ner IN quite different way" and tt
girl had certain silent pride in Wind
eating her fathers Judgment So. b
the help of a doe's-eared cookery boo
which she found in the garret. 81
learned some of the simpler secrets ,
the cuisine. and her own neat natm
taught her the mysteries of sweepin
and scrubbing; while old Kinda, a !,
black negress. with prizzled wool an
n soft appealinp voice like a finite. wi
pervnded the neiehborhood. came twi,
in the month to wash and iron for Il
little household.
..Jes what ole Hinda's good for.
said she; ''dat, an muffin else. Miss
can do mos awning; but dar amt /
sense in Missy stan'in' at de wash-tuI